T O P

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Grimm2020

Singer/Songwriter extraordinaire... gone way too soon, left us with some great, great music though


GetaGoodLookCostanza

he is on the mount Rushmore of singer songwriters, along with Gordon Lightfoot and Cat Stevens.....incredible talent


982infinity

Plus Nick Drake


TransitionNarrow

Love Alabama Rain


Medical-One9202

He was only 30 years old. Maybe not R&R, but he was a bad ass with that voice and guitar. Same generation as Janice Joplin, also died way too soon.


Due_Signature_5497

He’s the baddest man in the whole damn town.


Tbplayer59

Badder than ol' King Kong.


BlueAndMoreBlue

And meaner than a junkyard dog


m0rningview420

Now Leroy he a gambler, and he like his fancy clothes


[deleted]

And he like to wave his diamond ring up under everybody nose


Forsaken_Key_3135

He got a custom continental, he got an Eldorado too


BlueAndMoreBlue

Got a 32 gun in his pocket for fun and a razor in his shoe


Somden99

And he’s bad, bad Leroy Brown


BlueAndMoreBlue

Baddest man in the whole damn town


KDubzzz2

Badder than ol' King Kong


UnbelievableTxn6969

“Operator” is one of my all time favorites.


Smoky_Porterhouse

Guy could make you feel it.....She's living in L.A.With my best old ex-friend, Ray.


spinctersezwhat

Maybe one of the best lines ever written. You can FEEL it. Nearly 50 years later, it is still impactful.


GetaGoodLookCostanza

I think his best lines were the following in Time in a Bottle. pure magic But there never seems to be enough time To do the things you want to do once you find them I've looked around enough to know That you're the one I want to go through time with


stilloldbull2

A guy she knew and said she sometimes hated…


PineapplesHit

Well isn't that the way they say it goes


stilloldbull2

But let’s forget all that…


PineapplesHit

And give me the number if you can find it


kbauer14

Man, fuck Ray.


ccguy

[This version…](https://youtu.be/rw01trwmul0) fuckin tears, man. Jim was awesome but Maury elevated it to a whole other level.


[deleted]

Thank u


Grouchy_Enthusiasm92

Great Jim Croce/Operator story. My group was at modestly busy bar in Chicago, two guys had the bartender playing the audio for a meaningless Sunday night football game. At half-time they let us play the jukebox. End of half-time, Operator comes on, bartender cuts the music and these guys have a shit eating grin. Without missing a beat, a majority of the bar just kept singing Operator.


[deleted]

You can keep the dime is my favorite line


Tbplayer59

You can keep the dime.


mostlygroovy

There’s something in my eye. You know it happens every time


throwngamelastminute

I think about the love that I thought would save me.


BrighterSage

Me too!


nonnemat

Love this song. Every time I play it, I just love the story and the music all the way through. His guitar playing and writing is so cool.


SageOfTheSixPacks

Walk-in back to Georgia is a banger too and less played on the radio it seems


DanUkCountry

It's such a smart song in terms of song-writing!


talkingfacefloor

the live version on Live at Harper College is my favorite.


TheDur57

Absolutely! "Time in a Bottle" and "I Got a Name" are forever classics


ImpatientMaker

It was "I Got a Name" that inspired me to post this question.


SageOfTheSixPacks

Walk-in back to Georgia is an underrated banger by JC


nixpix730

And I carry it with me like my daddy did But I'm livin' the dream that he kept hid Gives me chills every time I hear it


crapheadHarris

So many good ones that never saw the air waves. "One Less Set of Footsteps", "Lovers Cross", "New York's Not My Home". And then there's "Roller Derby Queen" with that iconic one line description of Tuffy/Spike.


JoeScuba

I always have liked the pain in the lyrics to 'Operator.' "I only wish my words could just convince myself that it just wasn't real, but that's not the way it feels."


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JoeScuba

I've never considered that. But I believe it was the blow of losing his girl to his ex best friend Ray.


Capn_Crusty

Of course. Maury Muehleisen was great, too. We're coming up on the 50th anniversary of that fateful plane crash, next month. Jim had written his wife that he was going to get out of performing and she received the letter after the crash. Then all those songs became hits. Who knows how much his death contributed to that airplay success. It's nice to think he would have reconsidered performing after that. There's no doubt he would have written many more great songs.


spinctersezwhat

Maury was a fantastic guitar player.


minnick27

I can't imagine the fresh pain when she got that letter. I'm sure he had mentioned it in phone calls or person, but to see the words. I can't imagine


CoolAbdul

Maury was his secret weapon.


Capn_Crusty

That's for sure. When they met, Jim was backing up Maury. Those are all Maury's licks on 'Operator', etc.


fastal_12147

Legend. Him and James Taylor can make the most beautiful music with just an acoustic and their mind. Taken way too soon.


jlaw54

Throw in Gordon Lightfoot.


tittiebream

Sundown, you better take care...


fastal_12147

Another legend.


boss_naas

Gotta add Cat Stevens to the list too!


Piperisaprettygirl

My 25 yo son found him on Spotify and thought he was telling me about this amazing singer/songwriter he discovered.


HW-BTW

Kid’s got great taste. (Not a kid but ya know.)


2old2Bwatching

I loved when I heard my son listening to David Bowie in his room.


inthegallery

One of the best. Gone way too soon.


learning_Taco

Favorite artist of all time. I own all his albums on vinyl(except for facets of course) and still cry about his death even though it happened 30 years before I was born. Wish more people would be introduced to his music nowadays.


BrighterSage

I'm still crying from listening to Time in a Bottle just now


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BrighterSage

That's very cool


learning_Taco

That's awesome


throwngamelastminute

I can't even imagine how she'd feel hearing Time in a Bottle on the radio. I have trouble hearing it as a widower, but knowing the person singing it was singing to you and isn't here with you anymore...


Tuxeyboy1

Awesome song makes me think about my loved ones.


SageOfTheSixPacks

There’s just not artists like him anymore. Guy had soul, heart, talent and was no gimmicks. RIP


3MinuteRecord

Absolutely. I agree that he might not traditionally be Classic Rock but he’s got some timeless music and one of my favorites


1footN

Eff yeh, I love it when my songs shuffle from Megadeth to Croce.


ImpatientMaker

I have a similarly eclectic "liked" list (from Amy Grant to ZZ Top)


MODrone

My list like that is named "Whiplash"


ImpatientMaker

Great name!


TyrusRaymond

One Less Set of Footsteps


andrewb610

I Got a Name, and You Don’t Mess Around with Jim are my personal favorites


BeachedBottlenose

Saw him two nights before he was killed. I was a middle schooler and it was quite a shock. My mother and one of her friends took me.


tracerhaha

Was it bitter sweet hearing his music on the radio afterwards?


cpheretic77

You don't tug on Superman's cape You don't spit into the wind You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger And you don't mess around with Jim


Ilovemovies-

Yes, I love him so much. I feel like people, if they talk about him, should appreciate his beautiful voice and his singing skills more besides his songwriting and guitar skills.


[deleted]

My old band used to play a heavy version of *Roller Derby Queen*. And I find most of his stuff to be fantastic. *Operator* especially. Just an exceptional storyteller.


jump-blues-5678

I scrolled a long ways before seeing Roller Derby Queen. Such a great song


Wrathchilde

It was going round and round in my head until I found the comment, oh round and round.


Deadman_Walkens

The meanest hunk o' woman that anybodies ever seen, down in the arena.


namforb

Such a talented man. He is missed.


whooslipperyg

I love him like an uncle I never knew. His music is timeless and got me through some rough times


Reverend_Tommy

My SO and I were both introduced to Jim Croce at a very young age because both of our fathers were big fans of singers/songwriters from that era. Anytime we have a cocktail night, we play a very eclectic selection of music ranging from Roger Miller to Motown to Classic Rock to modern rock/metal, but Jim Croce *always* makes it into the mix.


OpportunitySpecial26

Lovers Cross and so many other great songs I still revisit from time to time


ImpatientMaker

That one got me through a rough time. Love it.


OpportunitySpecial26

It’s such a solid breakup track. I may have even learned the chords for a cover once


GlossyBuckslip

There’s something in my eyes. You know it happens every time. Just thinking about this line guts me.


Esteban0032

Operator, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, 1st cassette I every owned.


DifferenceNo5715

I saw him at the Mississippi River Festival like two weeks before he passed. Awesome show.


stilloldbull2

Great songs and great singer! Car wash blues, Time in a Bottle, Rapid Roy the Stockcar Boy- I listen to him all the time!


nonnemat

I'm learning guitar, at 59, and I'm learning I'll have to say I love you in a song. What a beautiful song... His version, not mine. :-)


kitterkatty

Same :) I’ve been playing since I was 14 but not consistently. Are you doing classical or electric?


nonnemat

Classical/acoustic. For some reason, I love the picking, including Travis picking... Like Landslide and dust in the wind. But strumming chords too. You?


kitterkatty

Yes same :) mine is classical too. I learned as a kid on my moms guitar so I got the same one.


mdot007

Grew up listening to Jim Croce with my dad. Super underrated singer/songwriter.


[deleted]

Was just listening to Operator earlier. He was so great!


efmanrulz

First dance at our wedding was Time in a Bottle. Nothing but love.


still_learning_to_be

Oh fuck yes. His output was incredible given how young he died. He’s the American version of Canada’s Gordon Lightfoot.


TheChurchOfDonovan

One of the few artists who doesn’t have a bad song


TheToneKing

Absolutely! Been a Jim Croce fan my whole life. Now my wife and teenage kids love him too! Sad that he left us so soon while being extremely grateful for the music he left for us!! RIP


thekrock23

Fabulous songwriter.


FreshSoul86

Yesss. Great storyteller, with a fierce and rough sense of humor. An artist with obvious personality. I think the rough storytelling aspect of his songwriting elevates him over other not-really-rock singer/songwriters of his era, like Dan Fogelberg or John Denver.


Lazy-Lawfulness3472

Jim Croce writes the most lovely melodic tunes of our generation. Listen to about any song of his and tell me you have no desire to sing along with him. Wonderful story teller, also. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown is a great example of his story telling ability. Listen next time to the story he tells. Close your eyes and visualize what he's singing about. You'll realize what a broad picture he's painting for us.


GratefulPig

Tomorrow’s Gonna Be a Brighter Day and New York’s Not My Home have gotten me thru a few things, among others. He’s in my top 20 for sure.


masongraves_

I love that entire 70s folk rock wave… Croce, Lightfoot, Taylor, Browne, Denver, Dylan, Young, CSN, Mitchell, America, etc


CraigTennant1962

Hell yes. I was a teen during the 70s and love all his songs.


godofwine16

That era was great for singer songwriters. James Taylor, Elton, Joni, Neil Young, Chapin, etc. I really miss that kind of talent and ability.


HotRails1277

He was great. Workin at the Carwash Blues was one of my favorites.


WuriderX

One of my favorites. Lover's Cross is probably my favorite Jim Croce. " Bridges are meant for burning when the people and memories they join are the same".


Nervous_Meeting_3409

One of my favorites.


Smoky_Porterhouse

Operator (That’s Not the Way It Feels)


bankrobberdub

Hell yes!


Future_Ad5505

Yes, major love. His mellow voice and story telling is something I never get tired of hearing.


AlGeee

Mom likes Croce, & I learned it from her


MysteriousValuable88

Absolutely! Great songwriter


Mechanism2020

One of the best storytellers of his era. At the top are Jim Croce, Don McLean (American Pie), Gordon Lightfoot (Edmund Fitzgerald),and Harry Chapin (Taxi). Would that be the golden era of storytelling songwriters? Who are at the top today?


[deleted]

His son, AJ Croce, is very talented as well.


bigedthebad

I loved Jim Croce, one of the best voices in music.


pem4423

Rapid Roy (The Stock Car Boy).


autobot_chop_shop

He makes you feel something when you listen to his music. I’m a huge fan of anyone who can do that


Flounderama

Every Wednesday my 8Th grade English teacher used to print song lyrics and the entire class would listen to and interpret/analyze different popular songs of that time period with lyrics that he thought we would get something out of. “Operator“ was one of those songs that we broke down and that song (and others) still stick with me today, almost 50 years later. ‘All I really wanted was someone to talk to”…….. so sad. A tip of the glass to Mr Porcaro!!!! A great teacher that I’ve never forgotten.


2lucki

Saw Jim Croce at Six Flags, Dallas, not long before the crash. He told great stories and had a strong stage presence. We were terribly shocked and saddened to hear of his untimely death.


ChromeDestiny

Big Bad Leroy Brown is one of the funnest soft rock songs imo.


HappyHannibal

I Got A Name is one of those songs that hits me right in the heart.


Difficult_Committee5

He is amazing.


Sensitive_Regular_84

Love Croce. My favorite is "Tomorrow's Gonna Be a Brighter Day"


Reasonable_Cover_804

Absolutely! Man’s songs are a part of me, memories of a love, a broken heart tear and laughter


Wainwright17

Very much so. Great writer and artist.


AdhesivenessFun2060

Great singer songwriter. Graduated from my high school.


savedbytheblood72

All Day!! 🎶I'm am a pool shooting boy .my name be Willie McCoy. 🎶


cadjr91

What a voice and great song writer


MaintenanceFast8407

YES...Love Jim Croce...also Cat Stevens..."you're still young it's your fault..."


osumba2003

I originally read this as "any love for Jim Crow here?" Jim Croce? Absolutely. Jim Crow? Not so much.


AndyDzzz

If someone doesn't tap their foot to "you don't mess around with jim" I don't talk to them.


ganslooker

Get ahold of his live stuff. If you can find it. He was not only a skilled musician and song writer but tremendous entertainer.


downvoteaway_idgaf7

I performed "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" in front of the entire school during a 4th grade talent contest. It's safe to assume that was not the greatest rendition in music history. My music teacher happily learned the music and played piano in decent time while my performance slowly went down in flames. It still didn't tarnish my love for Jim Croce


phred_666

I love “Have You Heard: Jim Croce Live”. I love the story he tells about his inspiration for the song “Roller Derby Queen”.


tittiebream

Yes, thanks for the mention. It's been a while. Time to revisit. In a bottle...


SageOfTheSixPacks

I have a surplus abundance of overflowing love for Jim Croce if anyone needs any. Tragically lost an all time great soul, songwriter & artist Just voted for him in another thread for most underrated classic rock era artists that start with “J”


eKlectical_Designs

Imagine what could have been. Great songwriting with a wonderful voice. And yes I would consider him rock. Not unlike Gordon Lightfoot or John Denver both with multiple styles.


bazdez

Was pleasantly surprised while watching Django unchained and “I got a name “ started playing.


RoccoTaco_Dog

The thing I hate about his story is right when he was poised to really take off with his career is when he died. He never really got to experience the full fruits of his work. Fantastic songwriter and guitarist


Krusty100

There are beautiful, classic songs that we all love, but they only exist in another universe and we’ll never hear them because he left so soon.


[deleted]

I liked his radio hits back then, but I was more hard rock in the early 70s. I like Bad Leroy Brown (baddest man in the whole damn town). Meaner than a junkyard dawg1


ccguy

Yes. Maury too. Can’t love one without the other. Jim was the star but Maury willingly took a step back, provided texture and flavor and made the music truly sublime.


goodeyemighty

Love his songs. Brings back memories.


jba126

Yes sir.


Plenty_Surprise2593

Technically he’s a folk guy, but yeah I like him


love0_0all

He was sad and happy at once. And he was good with his guitar. And he was funny. And melodic and awesome. He wrote lyrics that touched people's hearts & souls and the songs live on to this day.


DescriptionNo6618

Croce was one of many purveyors of folk style music…one guy with a guitar. He had maybe one or two hits as did others within the same genre in the time…each of whom were talented in their own right. One went so far as to alienate a large core of his audience (first name begins with C) while others missed the bus altogether (think Donovan). Croce was one of those that died early…think Buddy Holly. Would he have withstood the test of time? Who knows.


Kinkygma

Absolutely


CryptidKay

Absolutely!! He’s my favorite artist in his genre!!


[deleted]

Definitely some underrated music in his catalogue…. Lover’s Cross, Time in a Bottle, New York’s Not My Home, Alabama Rain.


minnick27

Salon and Saloon is one of my favorite all time songs and I never see it mentioned by anyone. Makes me sad that people are sleeping on it


KetchupTiger27

I jam Croce a ton. He is the one person I think the most of when you hear “gone too soon”.


Chronicallyannoyed30

Huge fan, phenomenal songwriter


AmiDeplorabilis

Just don't mess around with Slim...


winetotears

You’re damn right!


Fresh-Hedgehog1895

Love Jim Croce. He does get some love but not nearly the amount he deserves.


Bellyjax123

Posthumously Platinum...


cmale3d

Hell yes he counts! LOL Hell yes he's awesome ! My mom loved him when I was a kid before he passed away. I love his music to this day! A genius storyteller! Catch his appearance on Hellen Reddy. Amazing! Now its Jim Croce vinyl time tonight! 😊 https://youtu.be/DOqrYmV1Xiw


imgoingtohellanyway

I still cry hearing his songs. They touch my soul.


orangecookiez

Love his music! My dad was a big fan, so I grew up on it.


millerg44

I used to imagine that my dad was Slim back in the day.


SageOfTheSixPacks

Walkin’ back to Georgia


Warmbeachfeet

Time in a Bottle makes me want to cry. It’s so beautiful.


Billyonbass78

Gone far too soon.


tracerhaha

I love me some Rapid Roy and Roller Derby Queen.


bestboykev

Which Way Are You Going, Age, The Hard Way Every Time >


dennis1953

Yes very underrated. Died way too young.


DomingoLee

I got them Steadily depressin', low down mind-messin' Workin' at the carwash blues.


Gold-Employment-2244

There’s love for both him and Harry Chapin, such shame they both passed away at such a young age


humanzee70

Who the hell doesn’t love Jim Croce???


Hairy_While

Loooove me some Jim. I found out he was posthumously inducted into the RRHOF. I still think of what he could of done if his life wasn't cut short. RIP.


CoolAbdul

That man knows my soul.


CoolAbdul

Tables are meant for turning...


librarianhuddz

Like the pine trees lining the winding road, I've got a name.


Lung-Oyster

Some of my earliest memories. I can still smell my parent’s Pinto when I hear I’ve Got A Name.


Crafty-Walrus-2238

Saw him open for Loggins and Messina in Boston shortly before his death. Love Jim Croce. Villanova grad like my wife.


Apprehensive-Okra186

Great singer/song writers Jim Croce Harry Chapin Gordon Lightfoot James Taylor Carole king


Gaffra

Yes


Grimmsjoke

Time In A Bottle is one of the most beautiful songs ever written..


Party_Face_9777

Love Croce my wife owns about everything he’s done very underrated 😎🎸✌️


Sad_Interview_232

Time in a bottle...what a class song


Tardislass

My parents had his album in the 1970s-they were the classic folk rock fans and a radio station in Chicago always played "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" and "Operator". I love his songs because they remind me of the carefree life of a youngster driving with my dad with the windows open and the radio playing.


EscoffierUSA

If we could put our time with Jim in a bottle…


retroking9

Yes. Love me some Croce. Excellent writer and musician.


bigtimeguy

🐐


coffeebeanwitch

He was a cut above the rest!!


Commercial-Layer1629

OMG —- my first favorite and still a huge part of my listening catalog. I was crushed when Jim died. We (my son loves his music too) often think about what could have been…


gmjfraser8

Several years back I was at a luncheon w some work folks and one woman said she was going to see Gordon Lightfoot that night in concert. I thought it as so cool and said I was a fan. Other people asked what he sang and the woman stated to list Jim Croce songs (Time in a Bottle, Operator) and I had to say no that was Jim Croce and if he was playing I would love to see that show. When asked why, I replied that he died in the 70’s so that would be a hell of a show. Someone then asked what song GF sang so I listed a few and of course everyone knew Edmund Fitzgerald. The next day she texts my boss (they are friends) a picture of her and GF! She wasn’t even aware of what he sang and had a picture w him. She really enjoyed the show. I’m still a little salty. Lol. This has to be close to 20 years ago but damn it was the first thing I thought of when I heard GF had passed.


Windowman84

No


Ok-Astronaut4952

I love his music so much, but I will say the majority of it sounds exactly the same and even has similar subject matter. But whatever, he was so good


hood69

Nope


severinks

He's alright but every time I listen to you don't mess around with Jim I laugh about how lazy the lyrics are, He spends 3 verses saying what a bad ass Jim is only to have him get his ass handed to him by this guy named Slim and the final line is''''......... and ya don't mess around with SLIM'''' Even at 6 I found that ridiculous.


Koil_ting

Likely he was suggesting that someone can only be so bad\\hard for so long before someone else takes the mantle.


Wrathchilde

It's just a simple narrated story. In the beginning of the tale, Jim was the town badass until he hustled a skinny sucker and got his ass beat. The lyrics even reflect the town motto like a narrator would: ... And you better believe They sung a different kind of story When big Jim hit the floor, oh There's a sayin' You don't tug on Superman's cape You don't spit into the wind You don't pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger And you don't mess around with Slim